Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Work Stress: Variation in Perceived Group Process and Outcomes
Employees commonly encounter unpredictable and
unavoidable work related stressors. Exposure to such stressors can
evoke negative appraisals and associated adverse mental, physical,
and behavioral responses. Because Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy (ACT) emphasizes acceptance of unavoidable stressors and
diffusion from negative appraisals, it may be particularly beneficial
for work stress. Forty-five workers were randomly assigned to an
ACT intervention for work stress (n = 21) or a waitlist control group
(n = 24). The intervention consisted of two 3-hour sessions spaced
one week apart. An examination of group process and outcomes was
conducted using the Revised Sessions Rating Scale. Results indicated
that the ACT participants reported that they perceived the
intervention to be supportive, task focused, and without adverse
therapist behaviors (e.g., feelings of being criticized or discounted).
Additionally, the second session (values clarification and
commitment to action) was perceived to be more supportive and task
focused than the first session (mindfulness, defusion). Process ratings
were correlated with outcomes. Results indicated that perceptions of
therapy supportiveness and task focus were associated with reduced
psychological distress and improved perceived physical health.
[1] H. Schwetschenau, W. H. O-Brien and E. Delaney. "ACT for work
stress among mental health workers and teachers." Manuscript
submitted for review. 2011.
[2] F. W. Bond and D. Bunce. "Outcomes and mediators of change in
emotion-focused and problem-focused worksite stress management
interventions." J Occupational Health Psychology, vol. 5, pp. 156 -
163. 2000.
[3] R. Elliott and M. Wexler. "Measuring the impact of sessions in processexperiential
therapy for depression." J Counseling Psychology, vol. 41,
pp. 166-174. 1994.
[4] D. Goldberg. Manual of the general health questionnaire. Windsor,
Ontario, 1978.
[5] J. E. Ware, M. Kosinski, and S. D. Keller. "A12-item short-form health
survey: Construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and
validity." Medical Care, vol. 34, pp. 220-233. 1996.
[6] W.H. O-Brien. "Evaluating Case Formulation Decision-Making and
Therapist Responsiveness: A Perspective from the Area of Behavioral
Assessment and Case Formulation." Pragmatic Case Studies in
Psychotherapy, vol. 6, pp. 293-306. December, 2010.
[1] H. Schwetschenau, W. H. O-Brien and E. Delaney. "ACT for work
stress among mental health workers and teachers." Manuscript
submitted for review. 2011.
[2] F. W. Bond and D. Bunce. "Outcomes and mediators of change in
emotion-focused and problem-focused worksite stress management
interventions." J Occupational Health Psychology, vol. 5, pp. 156 -
163. 2000.
[3] R. Elliott and M. Wexler. "Measuring the impact of sessions in processexperiential
therapy for depression." J Counseling Psychology, vol. 41,
pp. 166-174. 1994.
[4] D. Goldberg. Manual of the general health questionnaire. Windsor,
Ontario, 1978.
[5] J. E. Ware, M. Kosinski, and S. D. Keller. "A12-item short-form health
survey: Construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and
validity." Medical Care, vol. 34, pp. 220-233. 1996.
[6] W.H. O-Brien. "Evaluating Case Formulation Decision-Making and
Therapist Responsiveness: A Perspective from the Area of Behavioral
Assessment and Case Formulation." Pragmatic Case Studies in
Psychotherapy, vol. 6, pp. 293-306. December, 2010.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:52999", author = "William H. O'Brien and Erin Bannon and M.A. and Heather McCarren and Eileen Delaney", title = "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Work Stress: Variation in Perceived Group Process and Outcomes", abstract = "Employees commonly encounter unpredictable and
unavoidable work related stressors. Exposure to such stressors can
evoke negative appraisals and associated adverse mental, physical,
and behavioral responses. Because Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy (ACT) emphasizes acceptance of unavoidable stressors and
diffusion from negative appraisals, it may be particularly beneficial
for work stress. Forty-five workers were randomly assigned to an
ACT intervention for work stress (n = 21) or a waitlist control group
(n = 24). The intervention consisted of two 3-hour sessions spaced
one week apart. An examination of group process and outcomes was
conducted using the Revised Sessions Rating Scale. Results indicated
that the ACT participants reported that they perceived the
intervention to be supportive, task focused, and without adverse
therapist behaviors (e.g., feelings of being criticized or discounted).
Additionally, the second session (values clarification and
commitment to action) was perceived to be more supportive and task
focused than the first session (mindfulness, defusion). Process ratings
were correlated with outcomes. Results indicated that perceptions of
therapy supportiveness and task focus were associated with reduced
psychological distress and improved perceived physical health.", keywords = "Work stress, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy,
therapy process.", volume = "6", number = "6", pages = "1185-3", }